By
Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 2008 Foothill
High School graduate and Henderson, Nevada native is serving in the U.S. Navy
aboard Naval Air Station Jacksonville, the largest base in the Southeast Region
and third largest in the nation.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony Martinez
is an aviation structural mechanic serving with Commander, Patrol and
Reconnaissance Wing 11.
A Navy aviation structural mechanic
is responsible for making sure the aircraft is in perfect condition for flight.
“I work with the hydraulic systems, tires and
the structure of the plane to ensure the plane is in perfect condition to
complete the mission,” said Martinez.
According to Navy officials, Wing 11’s history and
reputation remain unparalleled since being commissioned on August 15, 1942.
Throughout the decades, Wing 11 has continued to fly combat missions in direct support of
the troops on the ground and delivered
traditional maritime capabilities, real-time intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance.
Beginning in the
1960s, the P-3C Orion, a land-based, long-range anti-submarine warfare patrol
aircraft, replaced the P-2V Neptune fleet. After 50 years of faithful
service and the 50th anniversary of Maritime Patrol and
Reconnaissance Force, the P-3C Orion is being phased out of the fleet,
according to Navy officials.
The P-8A is a modified Boeing airframe
featuring a fully connected, state-of-the-art, open architecture mission system
designed for long-range anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; and
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, Navy officials
explained.
"The U.S. Navy sometimes asks the
impossible of our people. It is sailors that make the impossible possible,”
said Capt. Anthony Corapi, Commodore, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11. “Petty Officer Martinez is one example of a
selfless servant of our nation. These
heroes ask for very little recognition and perform their daily job with pride
and professionalism defending freedom and our way of life around the
world. Each member of the Navy's combat team
is crucial to our success. I am very proud to have Petty Officer Martinez
on our team!"
Martinez
“I like the learning experience I get from working with the aircraft," said Martinez. "Everyday
there is something new. It’s a pretty awesome organization."
According to Navy officials, the Navy
continues to meet milestone after milestone on this world-class mission and is
providing an aircraft with superior capabilities to the men and women in
uniform that will have a lasting legacy promoting a global maritime strategy.
“Since joining the Navy, I have learned what hard work really is
and how to work with others," added Martinez. "Also, you become family while deployed."